Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Three-dimensional space-defining
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-09
2001-03-27
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Three-dimensional space-defining
C052S653200, C052S645000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205739
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the rapid fabrication of temporary trusses or scaffolding and, in particular, to a connector or connector node which cooperates with elongated support members for the fabrication of such readily demountable trusses and scaffolding.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 Car 1.97 and 1.98
It is well known in the prior art that there is a great need for the construction of exhibition, display, and concert staging that requires the use of truss members that can be connected together in a well-known fashion to form the finished stage or exhibition. Many of these exhibitions or staging displays are quite elaborate and are associated with groups, such as music groups, that travel from one location to another to perform concerts. This means that the staging must be shipped to the desired location, assembled, the concert performed, the staging dissembled, and shipped again to the next location for another concert.
It is well known that the shipping of truss units can be very expensive because the assembled truss units require a great amount of space. This means, of course, that the greater the number of trucks and personnel that are required to ship the staging trusses, the greater the expense.
Likewise, there is also a great need for scaffolding that can be quickly assembled for construction or maintenance purposes and then readily disassembled and moved to another location either at the same construction or work site or to a new work site.
It would be extremely advantageous to have a readily fabricated truss that could be used in temporary, demountable construction or maintenance sites by simplifying the fabrication of the truss or scaffolding, reducing the number of parts required, and by simplifying the assembly process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention enables the rapid fabrication of a truss for use in temporary, demountable construction for use in presentations such as exhibition, display, and concert staging or, alternately, rapidly fabricated scaffolding that can be readily assembled and disassembled. This simplifies the fabrication of the truss or scaffolding by reducing the number of different parts and by simplifying the assembly process. The truss or scaffolding is assembled from a multiplicity of connectors that incorporate the teaching of this invention along with precut lengths of elongated support members, such as hollow tubes which have attaching ends defining at least one aperture. Each connector includes a hollow duct portion for receiving an elongated support member with a sliding fit and further includes at least two attaching tongues rigidly secured to the hollow duct portion. Each attaching tongue defines an aperture, and the attaching tongue is suitable for being received at the attaching end of one of the elongated support numbers. Depending upon where the connectors or the connector node is used in the construction of the truss, the node may use two attaching tongues or, alternately, may have three attaching tongues or even four attaching tongues. Thus, the connector node may be attached to an elongated support member in two ways. First, the hollow duct portion of the connector is slid over the end of the elongated support member such that the aperture in the connector and the aperture defined in the attaching end of the elongated member are aligned and can receive a removable locking pin. Second, the attaching tongue of the connector may be received in the hollow end of the elongated support member so that the aperture defined by the attaching end of the support member is aligned with the aperture defined in the attaching tongue received by the elongated support member. Again, a removable pin is inserted to lock the two members together.
Of course, the elongated support members and the connectors of this invention may be mass produced by any conventional manufacturing process. Further, the connector nodes and the elongated support members can be quickly fitted together by unskilled labor. Also, the truss or scaffolding can be made to any convenient size by using as many of the elongated members and connectors as is necessary.
The connector nodes may be made from die-cast aluminum or injection molded with reinforced plastic. Likewise, the cords or elongated support members may be made from either aluminum or plastic composites, such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic.
It will be understood, of course, that the strength of the truss can be varied by adjusting the thickness of the attaching tongues and the cross-sectional area of the elongated support members and/or by varying the wall thickness of the elongated support members.
As mentioned, an important feature of the present invention is that trusses or scaffolding can be disassembled quickly, shipped to a new location, and reassembled by unskilled labor at the new location where the truss or scaffolding is needed. This enables a great saving in fabrication costs because of the rapidity and ease of fabrication.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector or connector node readily assembling and disassembling trusses or scaffolding for use in temporary, demountable construction.
Thus, the present invention relates to a connector for fabricating trusses or scaffolding for use in temporary, demountable construction and comprises a hollow duct portion for receiving an elongated support member with a sliding fit and further includes two attaching tongues rigidly secured to the hollow duct portion and each attaching tongue defining at least one aperture for receiving a connector pin.
The invention also relates to a truss or scaffolding for use in temporary, demountable construction using precut lengths of elongated support members having a shaft portion extending between first and second attaching ends wherein each of the attached ends define an aperture therethrough. The elongated support members may be connected to a plurality of connectors with a sliding fit such that apertures defined in the hollow duct portion of the connectors and the elongated support member may be aligned and secured by a connector pin. Each connector further includes at least two attaching tongues which are received by the hollow end of an elongated support member such that the apertures defined in the attaching tongue and the attaching end of the support member may be aligned and a connecting pin inserted to secure the two members together.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4577449 (1986-03-01), Celli
patent: 5013176 (1991-05-01), Orbom
patent: 5049005 (1991-09-01), Lazare
patent: 5205101 (1993-04-01), Swan et al.
patent: 5938364 (1999-08-01), Hayden
patent: 859752 (1956-11-01), None
patent: 1088460 (1965-07-01), None
patent: 1320777 (1969-06-01), None
Jones Day Reavis & Pogue
Stephan Beth A.
Tomcat Global Corporation
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